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Action

Final Rule.

Summary

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 050 and F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the brightness of the tritium exit signs and lighting strips deteriorated below accepted levels. This AD requires a detailed inspection of tritium exit signs and emergency lighting strips, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficient brightness of the tritium exit signs and lighting strips, which could lead to an unsafe evacuation during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to occupants.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2011 (76 FR 62658). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

As required by current certification standards, each transport aeroplane has passenger compartment exit signs and emergency lighting strips installed to locate the emergency exits. A number of these strips and signs are not electrically powered, but are self illuminated by means of a hydrogen isotope, known as Tritium. As this isotope decays over time, these signs will [lose] their brightness.

To remain compliant with regulations, Tritium exit signs and lighting strips should be replaced when their brightness has deteriorated below accepted levels. Currently, the Maintenance Review Board (MRB) Maintenance Planning Document does not include an inspection task for signs and strips containing Tritium.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in insufficiently bright exit signs and lighting strips, preventing safe evacuation during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to occupants.

Following the issuance of [EASA] AD 2010-0200, Fokker Services discovered that one Service Bulletin (SB), SBF100-33-023, contained errors in the two groups of aeroplane serial numbers and, consequently, in the related instructions for those aeroplanes in that SB.

For the reasons described above, this new [EASA] AD retains the requirements of EASA AD 2010-0200, which is superseded, amends the Applicability and refers to Revision 1 of SBF100-33-023 for the accomplishment instructions.

Note: The MRB document will be updated before July 2011 to include an appropriate maintenance task to ensure that the Tritium exit signs and lighting strips meet the minimum brightness requirements.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously—and minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:

Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 62658, October 11, 2011) for correcting the unsafe condition; and

Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM (76 FR 62658, October 11, 2011).

We estimate that this AD will affect 4 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $340, or $85 per product.

In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would take about 2 work-hours and require parts costing $833, for a cost of $1,003 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products that may need these actions.

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. “Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,” describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in “Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:

1. Is not a ”significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a ”significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and

4. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM (76 FR 62658, October 11, 2011), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

This AD was prompted by reports that the brightness of the tritium exit signs and lighting strips deteriorated below accepted levels. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficient brightness of the tritium exit signs and lighting strips, which could lead to an unsafe evacuation during an emergency, possibly resulting in injury to occupants.

Within six months after the effective date of this AD, do a detailed visual inspection of the tritium exit signs and emergency lighting strips for required brightness, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF50-33-038, dated July 5, 2010; or SBF100-33-023, Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010; as applicable. If any exit signs or emergency lighting strips are insufficiently bright, before further flight, replace the exit signs or emergency lighting strips, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF50-33-038, dated July 5, 2010; or SBF100-33-023, Revision 1, dated November 4, 2010; as applicable. A review of airplane maintenance records is acceptable in lieu of the inspection in this paragraph if the tritium exit signs and emergency lighting strips can be conclusively determined to have been manufactured in 2003 or earlier, from that review; however, the replacement in this paragraph must be accomplished before further flight after doing the review.

As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install any tritium exit signs or emergency lighting strips if the manufacturing date is seven years or more before the intended installation date, or if the manufacturing date cannot be determined; unless the tritium exit sign or emergency lighting strip has been inspected in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD, and does not need replacement.

This paragraph provides credit for inspection and replacement of the tritium exit sign or emergency lighting strip, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the effective date of this AD using Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-33-023, dated July 5, 2010, as applicable.

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(1) You must use the following service information to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51:

(3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. For information on theavailability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221.